Imam Hussain and His Global Appeal

Imam Hussain and His  Global  Appeal

Dr. Mazhar Naqvi

 Imam Husain’s sacrifice is widely accepted today as a global representation of fight against oppression and standing up against injustice and the embodiment of sacrifice. This acceptance is indicative of Imam’s revolution as a true victory of Islam over falsehood .The Scottish historian and essayist Thomas Carlyle has described the victory of Imam as  “The best lesson which we get from the tragedy of Cerebella is that Husain and his companions were rigid believers in God. They illustrated that the numerical superiority does not count when it comes to the truth and the falsehood. The victory of Husain, despite his minority, marvels me!” It is not just Thomas Carlyle but millions of Muslims and non Muslims also who marvel at the victory of Imam despite that fact that he had technically lost the battle. Despite persecution of Imamis for the past 14 centuries, the charm of Muharram has neither diminished nor the oppressive forces has been able to check the ever increasing popularity of Imam Husain. He still remains an invisible guiding force behind each voice raised against oppression anywhere in the world.

The lessons and spirit of Muharram is now truly global and Imam Hussain is considered not as a savior of Islam but as a divine force who laid down his life for protecting the mankind. If he had not offered his life at Karbala, barbaric and fanatic monarchs, instead of democratic governments, would have been dominating the world. Allah , the most beneficent and merciful , has also granted an exalted status to Imam Hussain as he passed  the examination in most trying conditions with flying colors. The assembly of people at Mecca, the birth Place of Islam and Karbala, is a pointed to the fact. Everyone knows that for  Muslims, the pilgrimage to Hajj is an obligation if they are men and women of  financial means. However the difference between number of pilgrims attending the annual Hajj and those visiting  Karbala -a recommended but not mandatory pilgrimage- is just astonishing.  Saudi Arabia records an approximate two million Hajj pilgrims per year whereas news agencies such as  BBC have estimated the pilgrims at  the Shrine of Imam Husain during Arbaeen ranging  between  ten to fourteen million. Millions of admirers of Imam from neighboring areas and countries  resort to walking or biking to visit the shrine. While some flock there to witness many miraculous and phenomenal experiences that keep taking place there till today, others reach there for spiritual attainment in a somber atmosphere. It is an evident testament to the accord and interrelationship of freedom and fight against falsehood, atrocities and injustice.

No other martyrdom has such a global effect on different cultures and communities as has been achieved by what is known as Karbala Paradigm. The Muharram  remembrance has captured a vast part of the universe and almost in every nation congregations and mourning assemblies  are organized and hosted . From Japan to Nigeria to Europe to the Americas and Australia, these gatherings are held  in traditional ways so as to avoid any deviation from basic philosophy of azadari and its well established rituals without any adverse impact of globalization or western culture..